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Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Thursday, 7 August 2025

10th Parliament· 21 debates· 208 speeches· 68 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1755509552009433 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

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Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  6. 6 Oral question Oral Question: Regulation of Fertilizer Act - Maximum Penalty on Fake Fertilizer Manufacturers (Q.5/2025) 6 speeches
    • The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri asked the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for details on the Regulation of Fertilizer Act, including the year it was presented to Parliament and the maximum penalty applicable to manufacturers of fake fertilizer. He also sought information on whether fertilizer standards in the market are inspected and whether programmes exist to produce or encourage the production of organic and chemical fertilizers in Sri Lanka.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB

      AI summary The Deputy Minister, responding on behalf of the relevant Minister, provided details on the Regulation of Fertilizer Act, No. 68 of 1988, including penalties under Section 22 for fertilizer-related offences. He stated that imported and locally produced fertilizers are subject to laboratory testing and quality confirmation before market release, and outlined ongoing programmes to promote organic fertilizer production with the Makandura Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development Centre. He also noted that 54 organic fertilizer producers were registered in 2024 and 15 had been registered by 30 June 2025.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri referred to a police raid in Dimbulagala where ammonia fertilizer allegedly was being repackaged and sold as urea with false nitrogen content, linking it to farmer complaints over poor yields in Polonnaruwa. He questioned the adequacy of the Rs. 5,000 fine for such offences and asked what redress would be provided for the wider economic and social losses to farmers, rice mills, employment, and rice supply. He also referenced the 2021 Qingdao Seawin organic fertilizer procurement and the reported US$ 6.9 million compensation payment.

      Corruption & Governance ReformEmploymentAgriculture Full speech →
    • Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock JJB

      AI summary Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne said investigations into the Polonnaruwa fertilizer fraud, based on information from several Members, found that fertilizer labelled as containing 46% nitrogen had much lower nitrogen content and had already been widely distributed. He stated that such frauds harm farmers and the national economy, and argued that the current Act’s penalties are inadequate. He said the law should be amended to impose stronger, deterrent penalties.

      AgricultureCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri JJB

      AI summary Hon. Sunil Rathnasiri expressed appreciation to the Deputy Minister for advocating on behalf of farmers. He noted that the Government increased the fertilizer subsidy from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 and decided to provide a Rs. 15,000 per hectare grant for cultivating inter-seasonal crops on paddy lands.

      Agriculture Full speech →
    • The Hon. Namal Karunaratne JJB

      AI summary Namal Karunaratne stated that a rejected Chinese fertilizer consignment of 96,000 metric tons was ordered in breach of regulations, with 20,550 metric tons not entering the country due to incompatible microorganisms, yet Sri Lanka paid 75 per cent of the order value, amounting to USD 670,000 or Rs. 1,383 million. He said legal action is underway and maximum penalties will be pursued. He also outlined a Department of Agriculture plan to conduct plot-by-plot soil testing over four paddy seasons to standardize fertilizer use, improve yields, reduce costs, and limit soil degradation, while addressing resource gaps in 32 laboratories.

      AgriculturePublic Finance Full speech →